Several Walton County teachers talk about their pay

Published: Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 05:09 PM.

After remaining quiet on the issue for months, a handful of Walton County teachers stepped forward to talk about their pay.

The educators said it was time to get their side out to the public, especially since another negotiation meeting is scheduled for this afternoon.

“I can’t even live in Santa Rosa Beach where I teach because I can’t afford it,” said Chris Mayer, who teaches at Emerald Coast Middle School.

The year after he was hired in 2007-08, Mayer said his pay dropped by more than $600 because the pay scale negotiated by the Walton County Education Association and the Walton County School Board called for less money for his experience the second year.

By the third year, he was back to his first year pay. His salary remained the same in the fourth year, but the fifth year remains unsettled.

Teachers initially hoped their pay would increase this year because Gov. Rick Scott declared he was setting aside money for teachers.

Instead of using all the money to pay teachers, the board and union put forth separate pay increase votes for staff and teachers.

Support staff approved their pay proposal increase, but the teachers shot theirs down.

In the month since, WCEA has proposed a salary schedule that would give all teachers about a 3 percent pay increase. They will find out Monday if the board will take it up. If an agreement can’t be reached, an impasse might be declared.

“We want it to end, but we want it to end fairly,” said teacher Elizabeth Adamson.

The teachers say they want to be able to support their families without government assistance or second jobs like Tracy Nick and her husband, who is also a teacher.

Nick has a master’s degree and teaches AP classes at South Walton High School, but she says her pay isn’t enough to cover basic costs of living.

“I’m just tired of struggling,” Nick said.

Want to go? The negotiation meeting begins Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Wise Center located at 555 Walton Road in DeFuniak Springs.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published
without permission. Links are encouraged.

After remaining quiet on the issue for months, a handful of Walton County teachers stepped forward to talk about their pay.

The educators said it was time to get their side out to the public, especially since another negotiation meeting is scheduled for this afternoon.

“I can’t even live in Santa Rosa Beach where I teach because I can’t afford it,” said Chris Mayer, who teaches at Emerald Coast Middle School.

The year after he was hired in 2007-08, Mayer said his pay dropped by more than $600 because the pay scale negotiated by the Walton County Education Association and the Walton County School Board called for less money for his experience the second year.

By the third year, he was back to his first year pay. His salary remained the same in the fourth year, but the fifth year remains unsettled.

Teachers initially hoped their pay would increase this year because Gov. Rick Scott declared he was setting aside money for teachers.

Instead of using all the money to pay teachers, the board and union put forth separate pay increase votes for staff and teachers.

Support staff approved their pay proposal increase, but the teachers shot theirs down.

In the month since, WCEA has proposed a salary schedule that would give all teachers about a 3 percent pay increase. They will find out Monday if the board will take it up. If an agreement can’t be reached, an impasse might be declared.

“We want it to end, but we want it to end fairly,” said teacher Elizabeth Adamson.

The teachers say they want to be able to support their families without government assistance or second jobs like Tracy Nick and her husband, who is also a teacher.

Nick has a master’s degree and teaches AP classes at South Walton High School, but she says her pay isn’t enough to cover basic costs of living.

“I’m just tired of struggling,” Nick said.

Want to go? The negotiation meeting begins Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Wise Center located at 555 Walton Road in DeFuniak Springs.